Applying vibrato to bent notes?

[guitarrob]

I am having difficulties getting this technique to sound correct.

Do we have any pointers or tips from the experts out there?


I appreciate the insights.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

Firstly, you have to be able to imagine the target pitch. Then, once you have bent to that pitch, apply controlled subtle variations in the bend pressure to achieve the vibrato.

Practice bending against the tension of the string to build up forearm and wrist strength. If you have access to a bass guitar, playing that will help to build strength, control and lightness of touch.

Steve Vai's website used to have some lessons on this. These covered sideways, lengthways and circular motion vibrato techniques.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

I will look for some tutorials.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

classical style (violin) vibrato does not work so well on a bent note because it requires a different hand position, so the best way is to just use a modified bending technique and just "pulsate" the bend by slightly relaxing the upwards pressure, then reapplying it again in a rhythmic manner. practice your bend/vibrato with a metronome. Just start by doing the bend you are most comfortable with and work on an 8th note triplet vibrato and also straight 8th note vibrato.

like this:

heres a key first: bu = bend up to pitch r= relax bend (juts a little below pitch) p= push bend back to pitch (or just a scratch above pitch) br= bend release (full) st=stop note

12/8 (triplet feel): Pick on 1

1--and--a--2--and--a--3--and--a--4--and--a
bu----------r---p---r---p---r---p---r---p---br


straight 8ths: pick only on the first 1.

1--and-2--and-3--and-4--and--1--and-2--and-3--and-4--and
bu----------r---p---r--p---r----p--r---p----r--p---r---p---st

youll get more accurate at maintaining a vibrato that still sounds in tune....and you vibrato will sound rhythmic groovy and not the panicked random cat strangling vibrato that is really common.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

That's the problem.
I can bend and I have a clean vibrato but when I put the two together, the vibrato is not...steady or level..if you know what I mean.

I will try your lesson, thanks for your help.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

It's a difficult technique and one I struggled with.

Bend up to the target pitch and go up and down about half a step where you would want your vibrato to start and end. DO this very slow and eventually you will be able to do it a little faster and a little faster and will be soloing like Duane Allman any day now.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

it takes more control and hand/wrist/forearm strength than most other things we do on guitar. just like everything else, practice makes perfect.

if you know where the pitch is, work on shaping the vibrato. fast and slow, narrow and wide. work on all of them till you dont have to think about it

 

[sosomething]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

Every time I read threads on this subject it surprises me.

Vibrato on bent notes has always been second-nature to me. I don't even remember a time where I had to practice it.

I'm not bragging at all. I have plenty of techniques that could use polishing, but bends with vibrato - even big 2-step ones - have never presented me with anything that felt like a challenge.

Maybe it's because I fret with my somewhat-more-dominant hand?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

Every time I read threads on this subject it surprises me.

Vibrato on bent notes has always been second-nature to me. I don't even remember a time where I had to practice it.

I'm not bragging at all. I have plenty of techniques that could use polishing, but bends with vibrato - even big 2-step ones - have never presented me with anything that felt like a challenge.

Maybe it's because I fret with my somewhat-more-dominant hand?

No, I am the same way.

To me, vibrato seems like "something that happens" more than a skill to acquire and execute.

You can see here, I'm no Gilmour, but watch my left hand, and you'll see that it's not something I'm doing consciously.

I'm trying to play the song.

When you play (someone else's) song, you want to sound like the song. It's like when you imitate someone's voice. You don't know what specific things you're doing to your voice or changing about your voice, you're just trying to sound like what you're imitating.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

No, I am the same way.

To me, vibrato seems like "something that happens" more than a skill to acquire and execute.

You can see here, I'm no Gilmour, but watch my left hand, and you'll see that it's not something I'm doing consciously.

I'm trying to play the song.

When you play (someone else's) song, you want to sound like the song. It's like when you imitate someone's voice. You don't know what specific things you're doing to your voice or changing about your voice, you're just trying to sound like what you're imitating.

I also have a large penis and am consistently, effortlessly attractive to the opposite sex. I assume you are the same here, as well?

BRO FIVE!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

I also have a large penis and am consistently, effortlessly attractive to the opposite sex. I assume you are the same here, as well?

BRO FIVE!

Yes. I am also well liked by my peers, highly sought after at parties, and exceptionally athletic.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

vibrato is something that i used to do unconsciously all the time, there are times now that i purposefully dont put vibrato on a note. it takes balls to keep that stark note out there but there are times that its great

i was at an opera, ugh, and i noticed that the best singers often held a pure note before adding any vibrato. then i noticed that derek trucks does the same thing sometimes. lots of horn players do it too. made me re-think how i apply vibrato. not all the time obviously since it used to be a totally unconscious thing but i try and control it more now

 

[donnievaz]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

Vibrato on bent notes has always been second-nature to me. I don't even remember a time where I had to practice it.

Same here. It was just part of the evolution of playing I guess. I think I'd advise the original poster not to worry so much about it as it will probably develop itself over time.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

vibrato is something that i used to do unconsciously all the time, there are times now that i purposefully dont put vibrato on a note. it takes balls to keep that stark note out there but there are times that its great

i was at an opera, ugh, and i noticed that the best singers often held a pure note before adding any vibrato. then i noticed that derek trucks does the same thing sometimes. lots of horn players do it too. made me re-think how i apply vibrato. not all the time obviously since it used to be a totally unconscious thing but i try and control it more now

I'm actually doing the exact same thing. It's wild you bring this up.

A few years ago I read a post on TGP that actually helped my playing (I KNOW!). A guy, who was a jazz player and really didn't use bends or vibrato much, had a certain criticism of most rock players; that they overuse vibrato out of what almost felt to him like nervousness; that they lacked a certain confidence in their notes to just let them ring true.

I realized he was talking about me. Not directly, of course, but I realized he was right, and I was guilty of it.

Since then, I've paid special attention to the inclusion of vibrato as an element of phrasing, and not just a technique unto itself. What I've noticed in, as you say, the best singers and the most expressive players, is that for sustained notes, they'll often hit the note first - let it develop harmonic intrigue - and then introduce a gradual vibrato at exactly the right moment as part of the phrase.

This totally changed my approach to lead playing. It's something I'm still striving to master, but I find that with this new awareness, my vibrato is slower, deeper, and more musically applied than before.

Really cool that you're in the same spot right now..

 

[jeremy]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

It's something I'm still striving to master, but I find that with this new awareness, my vibrato is slower, deeper, and more musically applied than before.

that is quoted for truth, cause ive noticed the same thing. once i started listening more closely to vibrato and the use of it, it changed the way i approch phrasing. good stuff!

i still sometimes find myself reverting to vibrato on every sustained note, especially on slide but its usually when im distracted and dont have my head in the game

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

My vibrato is third nature and is more of a visual effect.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Applying vibrato to bent notes?

I guess I need to work on it a bit more and apply the pointers offered.

Thanks.